The Annotations having been very currently

attributed to one of our most esteemed dramatists, I feel it incumbent upon me, in justice to the gentleman alluded to, to declare, that I am alone responsible for all their defects.

London, January 8th, 1811.

J. P.

HAMLET TRAVESTIE.

IN

THREE ACTS.

Quantum mutatus ab illo.

VIRGIL.

Dramatis Personae.

CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark.

HAMLET, Son to the former, and Nephew to the

GERTRUDE, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet.

OPHELIA, Daughter to Polonius.

LADIES, GENTLEMEN, PLAYERS, and Attendants.

SCENE-Elsinore.

HAMLET TRAVESTIE.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

A Room of State in the Palace.

KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES,
GENTLEMEN, and LADIES, discovered.

Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.

King.

THO' by our dismal phizzes plain 'tis seen
The mem❜ry of our brother's death is green;
Yet, as he's laid in peace upon the shelf,
"Tis time we think upon our royal self:
We, therefore, to dispel our royal spleen,
Have ta'en his widow Gertrude for our Queen.-
How now, Laertes, what's the news with you?
You told us of some suit.-

Laertes.

My Lord, that's true:

I have a mighty wish to learn to dance,
And crave your royal leave to go to France.

B

Then brush! the sooner you are off the better.

Exit Laertes.

(To Hamlet) Cheer up, my son and cousin, never mind—

Hamlet.

A little more than kin, and less than kind.

King.

Why hang the clouds still on you? Come, have done.

Hamlet.

You're out, my Lord: I'm too much in the sun.

Queen.

Come, Hamlet, leave off crying; 'tis in vain,
Since crying will not bring him back again.
Besides, 'tis common: all that live must die-
So blow your nose, my dear, and do not cry.

Hamlet.

Aye, Madam, it is common.

Queen.

If it be,

Why seems there such a mighty fuss with thee?

Hamlet.

Talk not to me of seems-when husbands die,
"Twere well if some folks seem'd the same as I.

But I have that within you can't take from me-
As for black clothes,-that's all my eye and Tommy (a).